penguins in chile
 

I keep reading that summer (our winter) is the best time to see penguins in Chile. But I can't absolutely can't go then because of school. Does anyone know a good place to see penguins in late May early June?

Terrence

In Punta Arenas you have two choices - Otway Sound and Magdalena Island - We did Otway Sound - About a 1-1/2 hour drive from the port - you walk on an elevated wooden path - roped off from the penguins - you do however get very close to them - I would say this is a small colony of several hundred penguins - It was a nice tour. The Magdalena Island colony is much larger - you have already received a report on this tour - be advised this tour is only offered on a couple of days each week - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (Isla Margarita is located off the coast of Venezuela - nice place but no penguins). In Ushuaia the penguins are on an island in the Beagle channel - a catamaran takes you very close to the island but you do not land.
In the Falklands you also have two choices - Sparrow Cove and Bluff Cove - We did Sparrow Cove - We took a Tender to the Island - got on a 4 wheel drive jeep - went over some hilly and rough terrain to the Penguin colony - this is also a fairly small colony of several hundred penguins - maybe a bit larger than Otway sound - the advantage of this tour is you can walk right up to the Penguins or they will walk right up to you - also a few King Penguins at this site - Katie prefered this tour to Otway Sound - be advised the Cruise Ship often can not tender at this destination due to severe weather and stong winds. Bluff Cove is said to be very similar.
You have one other choice - the colony at Punta Tomba near Puerto Madryn - this tour requires a very long 3 hour bus ride each way - very bumpy and dusty - this colony of Penguins numbers over 1 million individuals - I heard that it was very impressive - We did not go because of the long bus ride.
In early March the Penquins are starting to leave most of these colonies - but there should still be plenty of them around to see.
Hope this all helps.

thanks. I have no idea yet as to what I'm going to do I keep changing my mind. But believe I'm taking all the advice in and chewing on them all. Like I'm at an idea buffet.

Terrence

I'm afraid that you won't see many penguins at Isla Magdalena or Seno Otway during June. They're usually out to sea near their wintering grounds by then. (I believe they winter in Brazil, but could be wrong. It's been a couple of years since I did the tour.) They're down south during their breeding season which is November through March with the peak January-February.